Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-10-27
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| cause of art"
Godfrey continued to call at the studio.
an have to lock the door," said Maud, aor
| I'll never have a chance to work up the COS
| tune l must finish it this week Aunt
| Sarah is complaining because l don't ar
range about my wardrobe"
you'll never want any wardrobe" re-
| piled Miss Forteacue, "f you close the door
| in short ordern
"Then I'll risk his coming and leave it
| open.n And she did.
When the young ladies arrived at the
studio quite early, one or two mornings later,
Miss Satterlee found a letter awaiting her
She sat down to read it, and was so long at
the task that Miss Fortescue began to wonder
and inquired as to the artiste's perplexity.
"It's proposal I'm considering" replied
Maud
Indeed! That's diversion. How funny the
portrait looks All, if he should see it!'
Maud frowned.
I'D like to burn the old thing"
"But you couldn't, my love; there's no fire,
thank fortunel'
@Listen to this impudencel" cried Maud, and
began to read aloud:
"'MY DEAR Miss MAUD-Thoush l have
known you so short time, do not believe
| you will be wholly surprised to learn that |
have come to regard you as more than
| friend. In fact have grown TO care for YOU
more than | ever cared for any girl l almost
believe can never be happy without you. |
| knew you know that | am gentleman; l
| even think you like lie little and will soon
like me more. can offer you name upon
whose honor no stain has ever fallen. OF
course we are both too young for an imme-
diate marriage, but hope that some day we
may become all in all to each other / will
call to see you this afternoon at 2, and hope
for an answer which will make NE happy
Till then and always Your own
"'GoDFREY.'"
My dear Miss Maud your own Godfrey
repeated Miss Fortescue. "Ah, my child, did
not warn thee3 Well, what to dor
Maud covered the portrait with an impetu-
Gus movement.
"I'll give the presumptuous youth little
lesson" she answered. MIR. McAIister says
he has an exalted idea of his powers; that
he's been virtually engaged to little girl
down at his home Tor some time past"
As O'Clock approached Mr. Godfreys
heart beat with confident exhilaration. He
| meant to show his friend McAllister thingor
two. McAllister had undertaken to remind
him of Mabel Glare. He tossed his head as he
remembered this. Il guess there amt many
girls but would be glad of chance at me-
be said, as he sot out for Miss Satterlees
studio He expected that Maud would be
shy at first. But gradually she would come
around. He purchased large bunch Of
roses as he proceeded on his way.
Maud was alone-apparently. She smiled
and took the roses with many thanks.
Pray sit down. she said. "You lNol,
| quite warm"
Mr.. Godfrey drew up chair.
"You received my notef'
@Your notel Oh, yes, of course"
"And what did you think of the ideal" he
| queried, with delightful self competency.
What did | Think Why, of course,
| thought you meant it rs a joke. I'm sure l
! hope you did, because you know, or rather
you ought to know, though, perhaps, you
don't know, and I'm sure I'd feel dreadful if
l thought you'd been led to suppose-the
truth is, Mr.. Warning, I'm engaged-to gen.
tleman who is now in Europei"
| Godfrey turned pale
Engaged" he cried, tragically "Whv,
| for that matter, so am 1. But I'd break any
engagement for you"
| Maud arose, looking very grave.
u am sorry to hear you say so. l have
| heard so much about southern honor"
But you won't decide at once he STAN
mered- promise me to think it over"
Miss Maud regarded him coldly.
You must have misunderstood me- There
| is nothing further to be said, and-will YOU
| please excuse me!n She turned toward the
other room, and Godfrey had no choice but
| TO leave. He was in such state of mind be-
tween disappointment and chagrin that he
left his hat upon the sofa and went bare
beaded all the way down to the street
He had gone half u block when he discov-
cred why people were staring at him Then
could he so back Oh, mol And vet the hat
was new, and Godfrey was just little close
about unnecessary expense. He therefore re-
turned and Climbed the stairs softly, hoping
she might still be in the inner room and
| would not hear him enter
But as he reached the threshold of the
studio be was greeted with an astonishing
| sight. Not only Maud, but also Miss Fortes-
cue had emerged from the inner room; they
apparently were taking great pleasure in re-
| garding picture upon the easel, which had
been moved from its customary position
They stood with their backs to the door.
IAN excellent likeness" said Miss Fortes,
cue, and the two young ladies laughed
heartily.
4 might pity him." said Maud, @if he
weren't so capable of pitying-no adoring
HIMSELF
| Just then they moved a little, and Godfrey
caught glimpse of his own portrait, ragged,
hated, flannel garmented-plainly almost a
| caricature.
For moment he was fairly stunned; then.
| turning, he fed hatless as before and chok-
ing with gasps of rage and modification, to
the street. He ran thus for several blocks
before he thought of halter.
He kept out of McAllister's sight that even
ing and for several days after. But gradually
he came to himself and wrote to the long ne
elected Mabell-Lily Curry Tyner in New
York Mercury.